Power problems weeks after Beryl erode confidence in Jamaica’s energy company

After receiving complaints from more than 20 parliamentarians that the majority of their constituencies were still without electricity three weeks after the passage of Hurricane Beryl, Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said he made no apology for saying he has “very little confidence” in the capacity of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to effect full restoration in the timelines needed.

 “This leads me to the point of where the information that is coming out of JPS and what is happening on the ground is at odds and we have got to find a way to make sure that we are all on the same page,” he told reporters.

“We are now going into week four as of tomorrow as today is exactly three weeks since Beryl struck and the longer we go it is the harder it gets for those without electricity,” he said, adding that there were several pumps belonging to the National Water Commission (NWC) “that are out after three weeks and several National Irrigation Commission pumps that supply water to farmers across the length and breadth of Jamaica.”

Vaz said the disparity between what JPS is reporting and what the legislators are saying means that there must be a disconnect regarding information being fed to the power company’s control center from its regional posts.

The statement by Vaz comes as the JPS condemned what it terms threats of violence made against its employees as they carry out restoration work across the island.

JPS warned that it would not jeopardize the safety of its workers and that residents of some communities continue to accost JPS teams as they protest against the delay in the restoration of their electricity supplies.

JPS said that while it understands the frustration of those who are still without electricity, roadblocks and protests that prevent safe access to lines and facilities that are critical to restoration, could cause efforts to be further delayed than is needed.